GPU and display
Variable refresh rate (G-SYNC, FreeSync, Adaptive-Sync)
How the monitor, the graphics driver and Windows' own toggle fit together
Last updated
How do you set up variable refresh rate on Windows?
Variable refresh rate lets a monitor refresh when each frame arrives instead of on a fixed rhythm, which removes tearing without the queuing delay of traditional VSync. It has three layers: the monitor's adaptive sync setting, the graphics driver (G-SYNC or G-SYNC Compatible for NVIDIA, FreeSync for AMD), and a Windows graphics setting that extends support to some DirectX 11 games. Every layer that applies to your hardware needs to be on.
Registry location and values
Variable refresh rate
- Location
Settings → System → Display → Graphics- Value name
Variable refresh rate- Type
Windows setting- Default
- Off when introduced in Windows 10 version 1903
| Value | What it does |
|---|---|
On | Adds variable refresh rate support to DirectX 11 full-screen games that do not support it natively. |
Off | Games use variable refresh rate only where they support it themselves. |
Enable G-SYNC, G-SYNC Compatible
- Location
NVIDIA Control Panel → Display → Set up G-SYNC- Value name
Enable G-SYNC, G-SYNC Compatible- Type
Driver setting- Default
- Depends on the monitor and driver
| Value | What it does |
|---|---|
Ticked | The driver uses variable refresh rate on the selected display. |
Unticked | The display runs at a fixed refresh rate. |
Adaptive sync
- Location
The monitor's own on-screen menu (named Adaptive-Sync, FreeSync or VRR, depending on the maker)- Value name
Adaptive sync- Type
Monitor setting- Default
- Varies by monitor
| Value | What it does |
|---|---|
On | The monitor accepts variable refresh timing from the graphics card. |
Off | The monitor refreshes at its fixed rate. |
What Windows actually does with this
A fixed-refresh monitor redraws on a schedule, so a frame that finishes between refreshes either waits for the next one, which adds delay with VSync, or is shown partway through a refresh, which tears. With variable refresh rate, the monitor holds each refresh until the graphics card delivers the next frame, within its supported range. The Windows toggle, added in Windows 10 version 1903, enables this for DirectX 11 full-screen games that lacked native support, and Microsoft says it augments rather than overrides settings already configured in the graphics vendor's control panel.
What it affects
Tearing, and the smoothness of motion when frame rate varies. It does not raise frame rate, and it only operates while the frame rate stays inside the range the monitor supports.
Is it worth changing?
Worth enabling on every layer your hardware supports. Pair it with a frame rate cap slightly below the monitor's maximum refresh rate so games stay inside the variable range; NVIDIA's latency guidance notes that turning VSync on with G-SYNC alongside Reflex or Ultra Low Latency caps the frame rate below the refresh rate automatically. On Windows 11, optimizations for windowed games extend variable refresh rate to DirectX 10 and 11 games in windowed and borderless modes.
What can go wrong
Low. The documented issue is compatibility: Microsoft suggests turning the Windows toggle off if a particular game has problems with it. Monitors that are not on NVIDIA's validated list may also need an extra option ticked in the control panel before G-SYNC Compatible can be used at all.
How to undo it
Turn off the Windows toggle under Settings → System → Display → Graphics, untick G-SYNC or FreeSync in the graphics driver, or switch adaptive sync off in the monitor's menu.
Create a System Restore Point before editing the registry. Every setting on this page is reversible, but a restore point is the difference between undoing one change and reinstalling Windows.
Which Windows versions this applies to
Windows 10 version 1903 and later, and Windows 11. Requires a variable refresh rate monitor, a supporting graphics card and a WDDM 2.6 or later driver.
Variable refresh rate (G-SYNC, FreeSync, Adaptive-Sync): common questions
Why is the variable refresh rate option missing from Windows settings?
The option does not appear when the display or graphics hardware does not support variable refresh rate. Check that the monitor supports it, that it is enabled in the monitor's menu, that the graphics driver is current and that the cable and port support it.
Do I still need the Windows toggle if I use G-SYNC or FreeSync?
It is not essential for games that support variable refresh rate themselves, but it adds support for DirectX 11 full-screen games that lack it. Microsoft says it does not override the driver's own settings, so it can stay on alongside them.
What does G-SYNC Compatible mean?
It is NVIDIA's name for running its variable refresh rate on monitors that use the VESA Adaptive-Sync standard rather than NVIDIA's own module. Monitors that NVIDIA has not validated can still be enabled with an additional option in the NVIDIA Control Panel.
Does variable refresh rate work in borderless windowed games?
On Windows 11, turning on optimizations for windowed games moves DirectX 10 and 11 games in windowed and borderless modes to the flip presentation model, which Microsoft says enables variable refresh rate in those modes.
Sources
Related settings
Guides that cover this setting
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